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16 Jan 2026How have you treated your joint pain to this point? Massage, over-the-counter NSAID medications like ibuprofen, and hot or cold therapy are three of the most common options. Surgical joint replacements were end-of-the-road options. People have been using these methods for decades. They’re no longer your only choices.
A recent AARP article highlighted trends in non-surgical treatments for joint pain. The article focused specifically on the success patients are seeing with newer treatments. It’s a treatment Premium Sports & Orthopedics has been using for years. Learn more about PCP treatments and other trending treatment options.
What Causes Joint Pain?
Before we explore what causes joint pain, it helps to understand the two types of joint pain. Pain can be acute or chronic. Chronic pain doesn’t ease after a few months. Acute pain comes on fast, but it subsides completely within several weeks. Chronic pain may be dull, such as joint pain from arthritis, but it’s continuous and doesn’t go away.
Acute joint pain is often caused by injury. You twisted your knee while playing soccer and tore a ligament supporting the joint. It needs time to heal. A sports doctor needs to assess the extent of the injury to determine how long you should rest and which exercises you can do in the coming days and weeks to help strengthen the muscles.
Inflamed tendons (tendonitis) can cause acute joint pain. Conditions like gout, lupus, or rheumatoid arthritis can flare up and cause acute pain. Each is managed by following a doctor’s instructions, monitoring your diet, and using recommended medications.
Chronic pain doesn’t go away. Osteoarthritis is one of the most common causes of chronic joint pain. Repetitive use of the joint causes the joint fluid to decrease, and the cartilage over the bones that meet wears away. As bone rubs on bone, inflammation occurs, causing the pain you feel.
When chronic pain is present, a person’s instinct is to rest and stop using that joint. When arthritis is to blame, it increases stiffness, which in turn increases pain. Exercise is important. You need to stay active.
If you struggle, working with a physical therapist helps improve your muscle tone, particularly in the core muscles that are essential for balance. You also want to work on your range of motion so you don’t struggle with simple tasks like standing up from a chair, squatting to pick something up, or putting on your shoes and socks.
Success With Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatments
Biologic-based treatments are something we’re eager to share with every patient who comes to our practice. While they’ve been around since the 1940s, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) treatments grew in popularity in the 1980s. They became an effective means of promoting cell growth and wound healing.
The use of biologic-based treatments for joints became more popular in 2005. Today, these injections of your own blood help with cell healing and tissue repair in joints.
Biologic-based treatments take about an hour, and you go home the same day. Some of your blood is drawn and processed in a centrifuge to separate the layers. Red blood cells are heavier and settle at the bottom. White blood cells and platelets form the middle layer. Blood plasma is lighter and forms the top layer.
Plasma and platelets are injected into the joint, where they help with tissue repair and cell growth. A healthier joint reduces inflammation that causes the pain. Often, you need two or three injections over a week or two.
Premium Sports & Orthopedics uses biologic-based treatments to ease pain caused by:
- Golfer’s Elbow
- Osteoarthritis
- Regenerative joint diseases
- Sports injuries
- Tennis Elbow
- Torn rotator cuff injuries
The side effects are minimal. If you’ve ever had an immunization that became a bit red and tender the next day, that’s the biggest complaint we hear. Within a day or two, the redness and tenderness subside. Because it’s your own blood used, there’s no reaction to the material injected into your joint.
Accelerate Healing With Non-Surgical Tissue Repair Therapy
Another option is a tissue repair therapy that works in a similar way. Your blood is drawn and processed to isolate specific cells. Those cells fuel growth and healing. As they repair damaged tissue, pain decreases.
It’s an effective way to ease pain from:
- Arthritis
- Ligament and tendon injuries
- Sports injuries
- Tendonitis
Again, you often need two or three injections given over a couple of weeks for optimal results. This does depend on the severity of the pain and damage within the joint.
Smart Technology Improves Biomechanics
You’re familiar with wearable smart devices like smartwatches and the Oura Ring. Newer smart devices help people improve their gait, balance, and other biomechanical parameters. Some devices are entering the market in 2026.
Smart apparel is one technology we’re watching. These clothing items are embedded with sensors that track your position, motion, and muscle activity throughout the day. An orthopedist or physical therapist can review the recorded data and determine where you could improve your muscle groups to prevent strain on specific joints.
Diagnostic tools are important for fast, accurate diagnosis. The sooner you’re treated correctly, the faster the pain subsides. Rest, ice, stabilization, and elevation help prevent further injury, but until you see a doctor, you won’t know if the injury is more serious than you believe.
Doctor-Supervised Weight Loss Programs
Joint pain may be tied to your weight. Every step you take puts extra force on your knees. If you’re overweight, each pound of extra weight you carry places about 4 pounds of pressure on your knees. If you’re 20 pounds overweight, your knees feel 80 pounds of extra pressure.
Losing weight helps ease the pressure on your joints, which reduces pain. However, weight loss is challenging, too. Doctor-supervised weight loss programs help you lose weight by following a personalized plan designed to help you succeed.
Dr. Erick Green talks with his patients to better understand their circumstances and goals. He learns what you’re capable of. Once he has that information, he builds a weight loss program that may include prescription medications or injections, a diet that’s easy for you to stick to, and exercise.
EMS muscle training is one of the ways he helps patients lose weight. Electrical stimulation forces the muscles to contract, so they work harder for the same effort. You gain muscle and lose fat more effectively. Once you see the improvements, you have the motivation to keep going.
Schedule your initial consultation today. Premium Sports & Orthopedics offers a convenient online calendar to help you find the best time and day for your schedule.
